No congregation in Durga Puja this year
Bureau,Odishabarta
Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday issued a set of guidelines to be strictly followed for organising Durga Puja taking into consideration the Covid situation in the State. This year, Durga Puja will be observed from October 11 to October 15.
Following are the guidelines for strict adherence by all concerned:
Congregation for celebration of Durga Puja, including associated religious and cultural congregation, shall not be allowed within BMC jurisdiction. The Puja Committees/Organisers can conduct Durga Puja in mandaps/pandals by adopting all COVID-19 protocols such as social distancing, wearing masks, proper sanitisation for which they have to obtain permission from the officer duly authorised by the Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar.The puja shall be conducted in indoor-like condition only for observance of rituals without any public participation, pomp and grandeur.
The mandaps/pandals shall have to be covered on three sides and one side to be opened only for the purpose of use by the priest for rituals. This fourth side should be covered properly so as not to allow any public view/darshan of the idols by devotees.The idol size shall be less than 4 feet.Public address system shall not be used during puja or any other time during the puja days.
At any point of time, there more than 7 persons shall be allowed including the organisers/priests/Kartas/support staff etc in the pandal/mandap. All those present shall have to follow COVID-19 protocols like social distancing/wearing masks propriately/sanitisation etc. The organisers shall ensure that only those who have been fully vaccinated are allowed for the observance of puja.
There shall be no immersion procession by the organisers. The idols will be immersed in artificial ponds to be created by BMC for this purpose.
During the immersion, maximum 10 persons should be involved considering the fact that the size and weight of the idol has been limited this time. The Puja Committee should ensure that all those involved during immersion should be fully vaccinated and adhere to COVID appropriate behaviour at the time of conducting rituals for immersion.
During the puja period, no religious procession of any kind or musical or entertainment programme by either any public/group/club/Puja Committee etc should be conducted.
#agencies
